Water clarification using compositions containing a water clarifier component and a floc modifier component

Abstract

Materials such as amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers and mixtures thereof, including halogenated adducts thereof, have been found to be useful floc modifiers for water clarifiers to form an effective overall water clarifier composition. The water clarifier portion of the composition is a dithiocarbamate. The floc modifier of a particular water clarifier composition need not be the same compound that is reacted with carbon disulfide (CS 2 ) to make the water clarifier portion of the novel compositions.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of clarifying an aqueous system without production of a problematic floc in the system, comprising the steps of: contacting the system with an effective water clarifying amount of a composition having present therein a dithiocarbamate;   including in the composition an effective amount of a floc modifier selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers, and mixtures thereof, and halogenated adducts thereof; and   maintaining the composition in the system for sufficient time to effectively clarify the system without production of a problematic floc.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 where after the system is effectively clarified, the floc is removed therefrom. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 where the proportion of water clarifier component is greater than about 5 wt. % and less than about 90 wt. %, and where the proportion of floc modifier component is less than about 60 wt. % and greater than about 1 wt. %, based on the water clarifier composition. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 where the proportion of water clarifier component ranges from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. %, and where the proportion of floc modifier component ranges from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, based on the water clarifier composition. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 where the floc modifier component is selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers and mixtures thereof, having at least one --(CH 2 ) j  -- group where j ranges from 1 to 8, and halogenated adducts thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 where the floc modifier component is selected from the group of compounds having the formulae:   X[(CH.sub.2).sub.a Y].sub.b (CH.sub.2).sub.c Z     where X and Z are independently --NH 2 , --OH or --H; Y is --O--, --NH--, --N[(CH 2 ) n  Z]--, --NHCH 2  CH 2  NH--, --CH[(CH 2 ) n  Z]--or --C[(CH 2 ) n  Z][(CH 2 ) m  X]--, a ranges from 2 to 6, b ranges from 0 to 1400, and c, n and m independently range from 0 to 12; except that b and c cannot both be zero; ##STR3## where Z is defined above, R is --H or an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl hydrocarbon chain containing less than 19 carbon atoms, d and j independently range from 0 to 102, i ranges from 0 to 39 and p is 0 or 1;     N[(CH.sub.2).sub.a Z].sub.3     where Z and a are defined as above;     Z.sub.1-p (CH.sub.2).sub.p [(C.sub.6 H.sub.10)X].sub.p+1     where x, Z and p are defined as above; and ##STR4## where Q is --O--, --NH-- or --N[(CH 2 ) n  Z]--, q ranges from 1 to 17, and Y, Z, a and n are defined as above.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 where the water clarifier component is a salt of a dithiocarbamate selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkali earth metal, ammonium and amine salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       8. A method of clarifying an aqueous system without production of a problematic floc in the system, comprising the steps of: contacting the system with an effective water clarifying amount of a composition having present therein a dithiocarbamate water clarifier in a proportion of greater than about 5 wt. % and less than about 90 wt. % of the composition;   including in the composition a floc modifier selected from the group consisting of amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers, and mixtures thereof having at least one --(CH 2 ) j  -- group where j ranges from 1 to 8, and halogenated adducts thereof, the floc modifier in a proportion of greater than about 1 wt. % and less than about 60 wt. % of the composition;   maintaining the composition in the system for sufficient time to effectively clarify the system without production of a problematic floc; and   removing the floc from the system.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 where the proportion of water clarifier component ranges from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. %, and where the proportion of floc modifier component ranges from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, based on the water clarifier composition. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8 where the floc modifier component is selected from the group of compounds having the formulae:   X[(CH.sub.2).sub.a Y].sub.b (CH.sub.2).sub.c Z     where X and Z are independently --NH 2 , --OH or --H; Y is --O--, --NH--, --N[(CH 2 ) n  Z]--, --NHCH 2  CH 2  NH--, --CH[(CH 2 ) n  Z]-- or --C[(CH 2 ) n  Z][(CH 2 ) m  X]--, a ranges from 2 to 6, b ranges from 0 to 1400, and c, n and m independently range from 0 to 12; except that b and c cannot both be zero; ##STR5## where Z is defined above, R is --H or an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl hydrocarbon chain containing less than 19 carbon atoms, d and j independently range from 0 to 102, i ranges from 0 to 39 and p is 0 or 1;     N[(CH.sub.2).sub.a Z].sub.3     where Z and a are defined as above;     Z.sub.1-p (CH.sub.2).sub.p [(C.sub.6 H.sub.10)X].sub.p+1     where x, Z and p are defined as above; and ##STR6## where Q is --O--, --NH-- or --N[(CH 2 ) n  Z]--, q ranges from 1 to 17, and Y, Z, a and n are defined as above.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 8 where the water clarifier component is a salt of a dithiocarbamate selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkali earth metal, ammonium and amine salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.